Labor has welcomed the Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock’s decision today to call for an independent public inquiry into the performance of Central Coast Council.
Member for Wyong and Shadow Minister for the Central Coast, David Harris MP, said that although Labor welcomed the decision to call for the inquiry, they would also like to see wider terms of reference.
Harris said: “We are disappointed that Premier Gladys Berejiklian ignored calls for a Special Commission of Inquiry (Judicial Inquiry) despite widespread public support for one.
“Almost 22,000 residents signed a petition to be debated in Parliament next week.
“The key issue now is the terms of reference, which should include examining the ‘Fit for the Future’ process, the decisions of the first Administrator, particularly contract decisions and organisational structure, the role of the current staff and Councillors, and the role of audit, both internal and external.
“All things should be on the table.”
The inquiry will be headed by Rosyln McCulloch as Commissioner and is expected to take approximately a year for findings to be completed.
At the conclusion of the inquiry, McCulloch will then present a report for the Minister and potentially make recommendations regarding the findings of the inquiry.
Those recommendations may include issuing a Performance Improvement Order or dismissing Council.
Today’s announcement also requires the local government election, which was scheduled for September, to now be postponed until late 2022.
Harris said it was essential for the community to have confidence moving forward in the integrity of Council.
“If that means delaying the election until there is a full Inquiry and remedial action taken, then that needs to be done,” Harris said.
“We need to understand and fix this problem so that ratepayers can have confidence in the financial management of Council moving forward.”
Harris, also today, wrote to Council’s Interim Administrator, Dick Persson, calling for a temporary deferral of any decision on land sales.
In the letter, Harris has asked the deferral to be employed until ‘proper and appropriate’ public consultation has occurred.
He also noted that the community should have the opportunity to have a full list of assets advertised with a period allowed for submissions prior to any final determinations being made.
Maisy Rae